Moraine Park Technical College is celebrating its first class of Promise Program graduates who have now completed their college degrees and will begin working in their respective fields. The program offers five consecutive semesters of debt-free college tuition, as well as additional services including mentoring, tutoring, career guidance, financial aid workshops, and counseling to eligible high school seniors. The purpose of the program is to offer the opportunity for a college education to individuals who otherwise couldn’t afford it. It will also help to address the employment gaps across the workforce by supplying businesses with skilled and educated individuals.

The first class of Promise program graduates are Logan Brue of Hubertus, CNC Tool & Die; Taylor Frank of Campbellsport, Graphic Communications; Gabrielle Green of Hartford, Early Childhood Education; Brett Hebert of Rosendale, Criminal Justice; Shayenne Jaffke of Hartford, Criminal Justice; Gavin Lund of Rosendale, Welding (2019 Graduate); Melannie Martinez of Waupun,Criminal Justice; Roberto Mondragon of Ripon, IT Software Developer; LaToya Singleton of Kewaskum, Early Childhood Education; Bethany Thome of Mt. Calvary, Graphic Communications; and Tania Torres of Horicon, Graphic Communications.

“This unique opportunity to earn a college degree without the burden of tuition expenses has helped to set these students up for success,” Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park president said. “They have excelled both inside and outside of the classroom, and soon our generous community donors will begin to see the value in their investment as we continue to welcome more graduates, who in turn will help influence and grow our local economy.”

The Promise Program was introduced in 2018 and was funded through the generosity of individuals and community partners. The Moraine Park Promise program donor partners are: Agnesian HealthCare Foundation, Agnesian HealthCare, Allan C. Kieckhafer, Alliance Laundry Systems LLC, Apache Stainless Equipment Corporation, Baker Cheese, Beaver Dam Community Hospitals Foundation, Inc., Beaver Dam Community Hospitals, Inc., Bonnie Baerwald, C.D. Smith Construction, CampusWorks, Capelle Bros. & Diedrich, Inc., Countryside Auto Group, Dana Bourland, Dick and Joan Kleinfeldt, Duane & Kathleen Foulkes Foundation, Excel Engineering, Fox Valley Savings Bank, Horicon Bank, J. F. Ahern Co., James and Catherine Barrett, Jet Stream Car Wash, Jim and Judy Flood, John and Eileen Pfeifer, John and Joan Shanahan, John and Sally St. Peter, Johnson School Bus, Kondex Corporation, Manowske Welding Corporation, Mayville Engineering Company, Inc.(MEC), Mercury Marine, Mike and Nancy Berg (Summit Automotive), Mike Shannon Automotive Foundation, Muthig Industries, Inc., National Exchange Bank Foundation, RAM Tool, Inc., Richard Zieman, Rick and Joni Parks, Rodney and Kim Miller, Russ Darrow Group, Sadoff Family Foundation, Serigraph Inc., Silica For Your Home, Society Insurance Charitable Fund, Steve and Karla Peterson, Sure-Fire, Inc., Ted and Grace Bachhuber Foundation, Inc.,The Grande Foundation, Tobin Machining, Tom and Carrie Kasubaski, Tom and Nan Baumgartner, Tom and Sally Herre, Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, Inc., Van Horn Automotive, West Bend Community Foundation’s Ziegler Family Foundation Fund, and Westbury Bank Charitable Foundation.

In fall 2019, Moraine Park introduced a second debt-free tuition program called Promising Futures. This program was created to benefit adults in Moraine Park’s district who need access to affordable education.

For more information on Moraine Park’s Promise program, visit morainepark.edu/promise.

The Moraine Park Foundation has received support from their community partner, Countryside Auto Group, with a $5,000 donation to benefit the Promise program. Countryside donated $7,500 in 2018, making their total contribution $12,500.

“We are grateful to Keith and Countryside for their generous contribution to the Moraine Park Promise program,” Dana Bourland, director of college advancement at Moraine Park said. “Their gift will give the opportunity of a debt-free education to students in need, and our continued partnership with Countryside will impact students’ lives for generations to come.”

The Promise program offers five consecutive semesters of debt-free college tuition, as well as additional services including mentoring, tutoring, career guidance, financial aid workshops, and counseling to low-income students. The purpose of the program is to offer the opportunity for a college education to individuals who otherwise couldn’t afford it. It will also help to address the employment gaps across the workforce by supplying businesses with skilled and educated individuals.

“At Countryside, we strongly believe in serving our local community,” Keith Ghanian, president at Countryside said. “We are proud to support the Moraine Park Promise program and recognize the power of education to transform the lives of individuals, families, and communities.”

Countryside Auto Group is a Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC dealer located in Beaver Dam, WI. Their strong community connections, family-like atmosphere, and excellent customer services are the core of their business. Each month, Countryside donates proceeds to a different local organization to drive awareness and provide funding for the organizations in the community who are making a difference.

For more information on the Moraine Park Foundation, visit morainepark.edu/foundation.

The Moraine Park Foundation will host its annual Gourmet Dinner on Friday, April 26, at the Fond du Lac campus. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. 

This year’s theme is speakeasy soiree, and guests are invited to dress in 1920’s style attire.  Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on silent auction items, try the wine cork pull, an event favorite, and participate in the 50-50 raffle.

The event features a six-course meal that Moraine Park culinary arts students and instructors create, prepare, and serve. The dinner experience will start with an appetizer of lobster cocktail with fennel and shaved horseradish, followed by cream of fresh asparagus soup and a classic caesar salad with black pepper Bellavitano crouton and fresh anchovy dressing. A Campari sorbet will be the intermezzo. The main entree will feature a grilled filet of beef, topped with wild mushroom and fresh herb ragout, paired with a side of Grande Prima Dolce ricotta smashed potatoes and garlicky spinach. The meal will conclude with a bourbon black bottom pie for dessert.

This Gourmet Dinner is an annual fundraising effort, with proceeds benefiting the Moraine Park Foundation scholarship and student emergency fund.  Each year, nearly $300,000 in funding is required to aid students in need of financial assistance.

Tickets are $100 per person or $800 a corporate table of eight people. Reservations are limited. To make reservations, contact Joan Brezinsky at 920-924-3281 or jbrezinsky@morainepark.edu.

For more information, visit morainepark.edu/gourmet-dinner.

Moraine Park Foundation’s Promise program has met its $1.2 million fundraising goal, thanks to community generosity.

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Giving Tuesday is a nationwide philanthropic movement, inspiring communities to support local non-profits. This day of giving happens annually on the Tuesday after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It serves as a reminder that giving is the greatest gift of all.

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To learn more, visit morainepark.edu/promise.

To learn more, visit morainepark.edu/promise.

To learn more, visit morainepark.edu/promise.